The Biggest Myth in the Language Learning Process . . .

is that you will learn the language just by being in that country. This is so wrong!!! I will say the best way to learn a language is by living in that particular country, but by no means does that mean it will just come. No my friend, please do not fall into the trap of believing that. It takes work, a lot of work!!!I could live in this country with minimal language skills and never speak the language fluently. So, here is my advice . . . if you are going to be living overseas, learning a new language, be prepared to STUDY and be humbled beyond what you ever thought possible.

No, Chick-fil-a did not go international

Yep, you are looking at two girls who just experienced heaven on earth. You see my supervisors had taken some vacation time in the states and a manager of a chick-fil-a was kind enough to teach them how to prepare sandwiches that would be good for 48 hours. My supervisors love me and my roommates! They brought us back each a sandwich, and I can not begin to tell you how great today has been. I have never tasted anything so good in my entire life. So those of you who are coming for a visit be prepared to bring us chick-fil-a!!! We give thanks because manna was graciously given to us. Here are some pictures. Jen tried to bite mine--not a chance girl!

I made a funny . . . in French

Okay, so I know the language blogs are getting old, but hopefully there won't be many more. Trust me, I'm tired of just learning the language, but I know that it is necessary. So back to my funny . . . last night we had a book study at my apartment with some French people. We had taken their coats and put them in the back bedroom. Well a good friend of ours asked my roommate and I, if he could get his jacket. We both walked him back to the back room, and while Jen looked for his coat, I was standing at the door with him talking. Well when Jen brought the coat to the door, I stuck out my hand and said "Tu doit payer pour ta veste", which means "you must pay for your coat". He was so shocked that I had said it in French, but the best part was that him and Jen busted out laughing, because it was so funny. I'm sure you had to have been there, but trust me, it was funny!!! I've been waiting a long time to be able to make people laugh in French, finally success.

I love my job!!!

So the past couple of days have been amazing. Nothing really great has happened, but I have come to feel that I am at home. . . i mean, yes things are still stressful at times, and the language drives me nuts, but I love being here. Not that I don't miss the comforts of the U.S. but I will make it for my term here. I've actually found a couple of things that I will miss. Yesterday it was a whopping 49 degrees and I was able to lay out in the sun and study. I know many of you southerns are like, "49 degrees!!!" I know before coming here I would have never stepped foot outside in that kind of weather, much less in shorts and t-shirt. But it was great to feel the warmth of the sun. And my study time just flew by!! I can't wait until my language is fluent enough to share with someone.

Can you guess what is in the picture?? These are my train tickets to Nimes, France. I had to come up with a language project for this month and decided to buy tickets to a french city. And yes I had to pay for them, but it was only 12 euros. Transportation is so cheap here. All of this had to be done in french. It was the greatest conversation ever. It went so well that at one point I stopped and thought "Is she speaking to me in French or English, because I understand every word?" It has encouraged me to continue to study and learn more. The volunteers will be relieved to know that even though I am not fluent, I can buy their tickets home for them, if need be:) Rest assured you will be taken care of!!!

Problems in the kitchen . . . again

This past weekend my roommates went out of town. I was left to enjoy the weekend as an introvert. It is what happens to an extrovert when everyone leaves. On Sunday I realized that I hadn't cleaned at all so I got busy and cleaned the entire apartment. After cleaning, I got hungry so I went into the kitchen to make dinner. I decided to make Terriyaki Chicken and rice. I had just taken the very very hot glass container out of the oven and not thinking set it down on the stainless steel counter (our sink is stainless steel). Well you guessed it; it was the last time I ever used that container again. Glass shot off in every direction. You couldn't even tell that it used to be a container. I've included a picture. Those that know me should begin to pray for the safety of my future husband. . . with me in the kitchen, he better have really good insurance. :)

Sweet tea . . . The avec du sucre (translated tea w/ sugar)

Okay so today in class my professeur asked each of us about a particular meal that is from our country. I want you to take a minute and think about the states and what meal is american. . . hot dog, hamburger . . . yeah so everyone else in the room had these wonderful sounding meals with detailed ingredients and when he got to me, I was like un hamburger. They are familiar with them. But I gave it a little more thought and came up with Bar-be-que. This took some explaining. They are a little familiar with it, but they definitely have never heard of Sonny's. So I told them that bar-be-que is big in the south and he asked what we have with it, so I went down the Sonny's menu. Then he asked what we would have to drink with it. And I responded "Du the avec du sucre" (translated tea with sugar). They have never heard of this before. One Russian proceeded to tell me that we dont' drink sweet tea with bar-be-que but that we have beer. He said he saw a celebrity in his mansion (on crib) eating bar-be-que and he had a beer. Then the teacher kindly interrupted and said "remember she has told us not to believe everything we see on t.v." They believe that everything they see on T.V. is reality. I try to convince them that it isn't. Anyway, I told them "I'm sure some people drink beer with it, but my family doesn't". They know about hot tea but I wasn't sure they knew about cold tea. And when I said that the tea is cold and we add sugar to it they freaked out and said "you will get sick if you drink that." I assured them that you wouldn't and attempted to explain the process in making sweet tea. I talked about making sun tea and reassured them that the sugar is added after the process (one Russian was worried that sugar in the sun makes alcohol). It was very humorous to see their reaction to the whole tea issue. You may rest now in knowning that my class is more educated on sweet tea!!!

I need fire insurance!!!

So, I've come to the conclusion that when I move back to the states I desperately need fire insurance. I have had a few issues with our stove (we have a gas stove). It is great in that the stove cooks really fast, but if you aren't used to it, it can back fire. Like today for example, I came home and began preparing my lunch. I put on a pot of broccoli and went to check my e-mail. I checked on it often and just when I decided it was done, I began to notice that it smelled like someone had burnt something. Well there have been many times when we can smell things coming from other kitchens in the apartment building. It is this fun game we play called "Can you guess what they are having for diner?" If you ever come, we'll be sure and play it:) So the smell didn't really concern me. But I decided to lift the steamer out of the pot and I discovered that the burning smell was coming from my kitchen. The pot (that used to be white on the bottom) was now black and I mean black. Just then the smell escaped into the living room. I walked out and announced that I had decided to buy a new pot. My roommates looked at me oddly and asked what the smell was. I replied "it is the reason I'm buying a new pot." miraculously the pot came clean.

A reality check

So today was a very traumatic day for me. I was leaving school and as I crossed the side street I saw a lady who was lying in the road. She had been hit by a car and the paramedic had just arrived. I can't even begin to describe how sad and gut wrenching it was. I cross that street everyday (it does not have a walk signal) and there are many days I don't even think to look to see if cars are coming. The streets are different here. Some are really small and would make you think that they are alleys that aren't used when in fact they are very busy roads. And because buildings are built right up to the street they block the few of traffic. Anyway it was definitely a reality check. Ask for safety on behalf of those working overseas.

Big Ben, Westminister Abby, Double Decker Bus

My Trip To Londres (french spelling)

this is Buckingham Palace
Hey All,
Here are some pics from my London trip. It was great and everything was in English, but I greeted everyone in French. It is a habit, what can I say? So there is a funny store related to this trip. I was exhausted from my travels and viewing London that day so I decided to go to bed rather early. It was around 9 or 10 and I had just drifted off to sleep when I heard the fire alarm go off. I jump out of bed, throw on my shoes, an extra layer of clothes (it is FREEZING outside) and I grabbed my purse. I flew downstairs (you should never take the elevator during a fire) noticing that the alarm had stopped, but thinking maybe they do things different in G.B. I arrive downstairs, run into the lobby (the lobby is like a big living room) where there is about 30 British people laughing, eating, and carrying on in front of the fire. They all stop and stare at the Amer. who had just come down stairs in her pjs. I quietly back out of the room and head back upstairs. Wanna know what the alarm was? It was the call button to the elevator. I am not joking. It sounds like an Amer. fire alarm and the kids down the hall had been playing with it.

French People Throw Up Too!!

You will never guess what I saw the other day. So I was headed to the airport to catch a flight to London for a couple of days, when I saw the grossest thing ever. I had to take the metro on my way to the airport and I was sitting across from this girl who looked like she was doing alright. Well, my stop was the next one and since I was so anxious about being on time, I decided to get up a few seconds before we got there. And it is a good thing I did. As I was facing the doors to exit (this guy was standing to my left) I heard an odd sound coming from behind me. I looked at the girl who I was sitting across from and thought she was using an inhaler. I've never seen a French person use an inhaler before and so I thought I'd watch. She makes the sound again and I realize she is gagging, while holding her hand over her mouth. I start to panic. I don't do well with vomit!!! At ALL!! And by the look of the gag she doesn't look to be having much success. I start beating on the door (and guy next to me) saying in a very quiet but panicked voice, "Let me out, Let me out" (the metro is still moving mind you; and at this point I really don't care). I glance back to check on the girl (again, I don't know why, when I know how I react to throw up, but I do) and just as I do, she spews lime green vomit in the very seat I was sitting in!!! The color of her vomit would make you change your favorite color if it happened to be lime green. I begin to beat harder on the door as the metro slowly comes to a stop. I run out of the metro, gagging, praying that I would keep everything down. What a way to start off my trip!! I just hope they find it soon and clean it up. I have no clue how often they go through the metro, but by the looks of it, not very often. So we've decided that they need to have throw up bags on the metro.

Today was a beautiful day. I went to a soap shop (Marseille is known for its soaps) and bought some soap. Then I headed to the post office to mail it. And the greatest part of all of this, is that I spoke in French to the nice postal worker. She understood me and I understood her. It makes me want to send a ton of packages. However, there is a funny part to today's adventure. Here the postal workers fill out the customs form for you. She asked me what was in the package and I responded savon (soap). Well because it is going to the U.S. she had to write that in English as well and so she asked me how to spell it. For the life of me I couldn't spell soap. It was so frustrating, so now there is a package being shipped priority mail to the U.S. that reads "soep". So hopefully it will get there. The flowers above were purchased in an open air market by my roommate. Aren't the beautiful? And the best part is that they cost 5 euros for 10 tulips. You can't get a better deal. The other picture is of an open air market in Aix-en Provence. I love flowers!!!

Now for those of you who know me, know that I hate shopping with a passion. I've discovered that the reason is because I can never find clothes that fit. Well, it took me moving all the way across the big blue to find my size. I went crazy and tried on everything. Now I will say this, my taste and the fr. taste differ a bit, but I did manage to find clothes. Once I got home I had a fashion show for my roomie. I've posted some of the pictures. I got a ton of shirts, a sweater (that is green) and an awesome dress!!!

To be understood . . .

Hey, so I know I'm not real good at keeping this updated, but I'm trying. So today was the best day so far (slight exaggeration--as my roommate would say)!!! I went to school and we had a substitute French teacher. She was so much fun and full of energy. The best part was that I understood everything that she said and was even able to respond in FRENCH!!! It is such a slow process. So you know that movie we all love-- "Grease"? You know those black, skin tight pants Sandy wears in the end? Well those are big over here; Along with very tight jeans. And my teacher was sportin 'em today. Anyway. . . Today was a good day. Oh and in class my teacher was asking us questions and we had to respond in French. Well she looks at me and says "What is your favorite French wine?" I couldn't believe it, she asks me that questions; the one who doesn't drink and on top of that she wanted to know of a French one. You must understand it is weird--almost incomprehensible for someone not to drink here and so trying to explain that to her in my very limited French vocabulary was tres dificile or very difficult.

La Poste

Today was a great day!!! Besides it being freezing outside-- Raquel and I went to the post office to mail some post cards. Well the stamp machine (yes the one that spit out all of my change the last time) wasn't working so I decided to bite the bullet and go to the counter. In French I said "Je Voudrais les envoyer aux Etats-Unis" which means I would like to send these to the U.S.!!!! He couldn't find the right stamps so he said "Je Cherche . . . " which basically means I will go look for them. And the really cool part to all of this is that I spoke and UNDERSTOOD in French. I'm so excited!! And yet I still have so much to learn. . . In the far right corner is our post office (if you are facing the picture--yellow and blue sign).

The post office experience

Here in France, their currency is a little different. The have pieces that are valued at 1 cent (centimes), 2 cents (centimes), 5 cents (centimes), 10 cents (centimes) and 20 cents (centimes). Here there is no tax, so most prices are like 5.99 or 5.89. So it is always easier to hand them 6.00 euros then to count out the cents. Doing this leaves you with a lot of change. Well I needed to mail a letter and decided that I would get rid of my change when I bought my stamp (because you put the money in a machine). So Raquel and I went to the post office, she went to the counter, while I went to the stamp machine. The machine told me I needed a 75 centimes stamp. So I began putting in my change. Most of my change was in 1 cent and 2 cents, and a few 5 cents. I had reached 72 cents and was about to put in the remaining 3 cents when the screen started flashing and proceeded to tell me I had put to many coins in the machine (not as in too much in price, but in number of coins). Then it began to spit out my 72 cents back at me. Well the only other coin I had was a 1 dollar (euro) coin and so I had no choice but to use it. Needless to say I walked out of that post office with more change then when I started. The joys of living in a foreign country.

A professional

So Jen and I discovered why the French never talk about their jobs. . .I think this pictures explains it all. Can you imagine explaining to someone that you balance cats on your arms all day? Yes, he does this for a living. The sign below him said that he is a father of three and that the cats are never abused or harmed. If you put money in his bucket you can pet the cats or take a picture.

So today . . .

In class. . . We were given an assignment with a partner. We were to ask each other questions and then tell the class the response. Then the class was supposed to come up with the questions that were asked. I know it sounds confusing. . .Just think the instructions were given in French which made it all the more confusing. SO there is the assignment here is the situation. . . There are about 12 people in my class. Three Russians, four Vietnamese, one Jamaican, and many others. However, I'm the only American. Since none of us have common languages, the professor teaches us in French (the language we are also learning). So sometimes the directions don't always compute. Well today the Jamaican and a Vietnamese were paired together and things didn't go so well. Let's just say there were hands thrown in the air, pencils flying, and a lot of foreign languages spoken. One girl was so frustrated she almost cried--it was a rough day. Well then it became my turn . . . and my partner was explaining how in the States I'm a teacher. Did I mention my partner is Bulgarian and does not speak English? So there I was trying to say the word for "teacher of little children" in French. . .when the Turkish girl looked at me in amazement (Now I couldn't tell if this was a "wow" type of amazement or the bad kind) and asked "really you are a teacher?" in French. Well at least that is what I'm hoping she asked me. Her astonishment made me question as did the 2 Russian girls who had just said something about, me, the American in Russian. So as I was sitting there contemplating just how bad this situation could get if I answered yes and she was asking me something totally different. I very hesitantly reply "oui" (which means Yes).

After class . . . I discovered that in my attempt to ask for coffee, I actually said "You are coffee". Oh and I didn't say it once, but about 5 times. Awe the joys of learning French.

The Metro

Jen and Raquel are my roommates, well Jen is a part-time roommate and this is their version of the evening . . .

from Jen's blog:

tonight i almost fell backwards down the escalator at the metro. heres the scene... raquel is first, then rachel then me. raquel sees the metro and its getting ready to close. she runs for the door. rachel freaks out and sprints, afraid that she is going ot get squashed in the door. then i almost fall backwards down the escalator. but i dont. so i sprint to get on the metro and wonder... what would raquel do if she looked behind her and we werent there. or if rachel was smashed in the door and i was falling down the escalator... we had a good laugh on the metro. breaking our "lets try to be french like when we are in public and not talk, just stare and not smile" we busted out laughing. its good to be an american

From Raquel's blog:

tonight rachel, jen, and i needed to get on the metro. so we put our little metro passes through the metro pass thing, then we get on the escalator. (usually when i choose to just stand and wait till i get to the top the train leaves me, so i am walking up the escalator) so i'm walking up the escalotor and i see that the train is just sitting there, with the doors open. i don't know how long it's been like that, so i walk quickly into the metro and sit down. then rachel and jen come in right after me, sit down and burst out laughing. here's why: when i quickly walked from the escalator to the metro, rachel was confused why i started "running" so she also started running to get into the metro on time because she thought i was going to leave her behind. (which i knew she was right behind me and that there would be enough time for her to get in, and even if she didn't, she would be able to get home easily). so her startled moment made jen a little startled and she started tipping backwards because of her heavy backpack. her heart started beating fast and everything! but we all made it safely, sat down, and waited at least 2 seconds before the metro made the little beepy sound to say the doors are closing.

My version of the evening:

so some keys points were left out of raquel's version of what happened at the metro today... We are all standing on the escalator, waiting patiently (as the french do) as it takes us to the train platform. Jen and I are standing shoulder to shoulder while raquel is about 2 steps in front of us. Out of no where raquel starts sprinting(not just walking as she puts it), but sprinting (enough to burn some calories on the way). I have become very accustomed to copying raquel (as well as the french nationals--I try to blend in)and so as she is sprinting, I'm thinking is this normal, do most people sprint the last couple of steps on the esculator (i've only ridden the metro twice)? In the mist of trying to figure out why my roommate is leaving me(and not at a normal pace, mind you)I decide to follow her. So I start to run,finally realizing she is running to catch the metro. Now i'll be honest and say I've gotten caught in the metro doors (not in france) and so yeah I don't like to be rushed. Anywho I race on the metro, catch up with raquel and take a seat next to her; realizing that she never once looked back to make sure that her non-speaking french roommate actually made it. Needless to say while I am fighting for my presence on the metro, poor jen is fighting for her life on the escalator. In my hurry and excitement to catch up with raquel i gently brush jen as i am running, which throws off her balance (she is carrying a heavy backpack)and gravity takes over. At the last possible second she grabs the rail, preventing her from falling backwards down the escalator--now remember raquel is calmly seated on the metro, i'm sitting across from her shock and dismayed that she left me, when jen arrives slightly out of breath. As Jen and I recount the events of the last few minutes (where our lives flashed before our eyes), we break the french code, laughing hysterically.